Patagonia Is Closing Its Stores on Election Day

The sustainable outdoor-clothing company is encouraging its customers to head to the polls on Nov. 8 and to prioritize environmental issues.

Patagonia — the sustainable outdoor-clothing company founded by environmentalist Yvon Chouinard in 1973 — is shutting its doors on Nov. 8.

The retailer is closing its stores on Election Day to encourage Americans to head to the polls and prioritize environmental issues on the ballot. The move is part of Patagonia's ongoing Vote Our Planet initiative, a national campaign urging Americans to vote to protect the environment.

"During a time of catastrophic environmental crisis, when America needs strong leadership to confront the fundamental threat of climate change, voter turnout threatens to reach historic lows as people are turned off by the ugliness of politics," said Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario in a statement.

"As a business, we have a unique ability to take a stand and choose to prioritize the health of the planet over profit, and I think it’s important we take that opportunity when it truly matters. We want to do everything possible to empower citizens to make their voices heard and elect candidates up and down the ballot who will protect our planet."

Since the company's Vote Our Planet movement launched in September, Patagonia has been releasing videos about local communities devastated by environmental issues (as seen on its Instagram account) and has launched a website containing significant voter-education resources.

Known for its commitment to the environment, Patagonia dropped one of its wool suppliers, Argentina-based farm Ovis 21, following a graphic PETA report that eventually led the company to make its own independent investigation into that matter last year.